Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2017 4:38 pm Post subject: What do you want to hear on the next album?

My, how time flies. We're due for another Stratovarius album soon.

Quick recap. The band has been on fire since 2009. Every two years we've gotten a new album. Looks like we might be waiting until next year this time. Matias and Lauri have opened up a whole new dimension for Stratovarius's sound. Rolf has been a welcome addition - not sure how much songwriting input he's had on the last couple of albums, but his playing is extraordinary and he sounds like the perfect fit for the band.

On the next album I hope Jani gets some input as he usually does, but with less of a Cain's Offering sound. I like Shine In The Dark, don't get me wrong, but it crosses over into Cain's Offering territory quite apparently. I hope to hear more modern spins on the classic Stratovarius sound - Rise Above It, My Eternal Dream, etc. - and some other quirky songs like Man In The Mirror, and hopefully another epic tune.

Announced or just the feeling? I saw Timo say "probably next year" on FB, but that was also the plan for Revolution Renaissance, so who knows.

There wasn't a single bad track on Eternal, but I don't want to see the guys get complacent. All my favorite albums have been the ones where the guys really push the envelope. Episode (first one with modern power metal sound), Elements, Pt. 1 (incorporating a much more symphonic sound), and Nemesis (bringing in more keyboards/synths in a way you didn't really hear in the 2000s). If I want to hear the same sound as Eternal, I'll just listen to Eternal

let's venture into progressive and let those keyboards soar! Maybe a couple fast power metal songs, a midtempo sing-along, a ballad, but then maybe 4-5 prog metal songs (with some Scandinavian folk elements thrown in for good measure).

Are you kidding? Matias doesn't mix as well as the other guy, both both still have a great, crisp sound to them.

Autism is REAL!

Listen to Infernal Maze and compare it to "Eternity" or "Coming Home" and you'll see what i mean.

I hate the warm fuzzy sound of the newer records. There is no depth or dynamic, just a giant wall of noise.

My bad. Read it as "Nemesis and Eternal" and was comparing it to Elysium. I think Matias only started behind the console with Nemesis, but I'm not 100% sure.

The guitars aren't as crunchy on Darkest Hours and Infernal Maze but they're by no means unlistenable. The removed mid-high frequencies make some room for Timo's lower range to be more solid and for Jens to do what Jens does.

One thing I do miss about the late 90s production is however Timo mixed the drums - I think he also used some VST samples on top of Jorg's playing, for some reason - the drums sound FUCKING HUGE. Now I know Jorg beats the hell out of his drums anyway, but man, you can really hear the drums booming and it makes the slow songs like Babylon that much better. It has such a crisp, clean snap to it. Same on Infinity.

One thing I do miss about the late 90s production is however Timo mixed the drums - I think he also used some VST samples on top of Jorg's playing, for some reason - the drums sound FUCKING HUGE. Now I know Jorg beats the hell out of his drums anyway, but man, you can really hear the drums booming and it makes the slow songs like Babylon that much better. It has such a crisp, clean snap to it. Same on Infinity.

He definitely talked about doing it manually for the self-titled in his book, I wouldn't be surprised if he did it for all the other ones.

Fun fact, just found this out: Matias mixed 4 songs on Elysium and Mikko Karmila did the other 5. If you can figure out who did what without looking it up, you get a cookie.

I personnaly found Elysium excellent, quality and recording wise. Haven't listened to it that much on the hi-fi system but I remember we did some tests on it because we thought it sounded pretty meh but ended up with an amazing result on the next day. (On the cd and many tests on the vynil. Still amazed they got such good quality with so many songs compacted together on just one disc.. )
But I agree Eternal's sound in general is "weird" , the vocals seem a bit lost behind and I may be wrong but I feel like the instruments sound a bit messier, especially after Nemesis, that is delicious to listen to.

As for what I want... eh, just nice songs like they know how to make :B

Jump to:
You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum